aa5 » 22 Apr 2017, 04:21 wrote:Seneca » April 21st, 2017, 8:41 am wrote:The ideas of Eugene McCarthy are also new to me, but I think you are somewhat misinterpreting what he is actually saying. He is not trying to replace or criticise the concept of natural selection.
He is criticising the assertion of (neo) Darwinians that most changes in organisms arise because of random mutations.
I find his ideas interesting. He also shows that there even is a big problem with the definition of species (in the biological sense)
Had I come by this a few years ago, I would probably have quickly rejected it. I remember I was horrified when I learned about the existence of hybrid animals (besides the mule). Even not so distant ones like Liger (male Lion x female Tiger) disgusted me. This was probably because it upset my worldview.
About the aquatic ape theory: I found a website where it is being criticised http://www.aquaticape.org/. Apparently someone took the effort to verify the sources that were cited by the proponents and found that they were cited incorrectly, and that conflicting data of the same sources was ignored.
I had a similar reaction at first, the hybrid animals frightened/made me feel uncomfortable. I realized as you did that it wasn't that there is actually anything about the hybrid animals that was making me feel that way, but instead the discomfort as my brain grappled with a new idea that changed my understanding in an area.
I suspect this emotional response is big reason humans block out any arguments contrary to what they believe. Like it seems strange often how otherwise intelligent people will cling to idiotic stories they were taught as children, finding the slightest and weakest reasons to dismiss contrary arguments.
Evolution in general is a highly emotionally charged area, because if fully accepted it challenges most peoples beliefs in areas like religion, politics, society, romance, etc. And people mainly believe whatever it is they want to believe.
I agree. I should add that my children were not disgusted or horrified. They were the ones that brought them to my attention. That is why I now think my reaction had more to do with my "education" than with something else.